One of the last U-boats to leave Germany after the surrender, U534 was sunk by a Liberator bomber. There were rumours of a high-level German official escaping the crumbled Nazi empire inside the vessel, but no documents or artefacts relating to this rumour were found when the ship was salvaged.

I managed to get these photos during one of the last tours when it was at the Historic Warships museum in Birkenhead.

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/u534.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/damage.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/aft.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/deck.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/diagram.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/door.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/engineroom.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/fuses.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/gauge.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/hatch.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/radio.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/tools.jpg

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/tower.jpg

One of the last U-boats to leave Germany after the surrender, U534 was sunk by a Liberator bomber. There were rumours of a high-level German official escaping the crumbled Nazi empire inside the vessel, but no documents or artefacts relating to this rumour were found when the ship was salvaged.

I managed to get these photos during one of the last tours when it was at the Historic Warships museum in Birkenhead.

http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/u534/u534.jpg


That U-Boat should be protected from further corrosion. The perfect place for those ships is West Waterloo/Princes and Princes Half-Tide Docks. The fools filled them in to canal boat depths. No idea whatsoever.

I know, it's ridiculous. What better place for a museum on shipping than on Liverpool's waterfront? Why couldn't they have moved to Prince's half-tide... that would have been immense, and a crowd puller...

I know, it's ridiculous. What better place for a museum on shipping than on Liverpool's waterfront? Why couldn't they have moved to Prince's half-tide... that would have been immense, and a crowd puller...

It needs intelligence and joined up thinking. Somthing Liverpool city council and its planners are devoid of.

Excellent pics Sanppel :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Hi Snappel

Very interesting photographs. Thank you!

Chris

:) Excellent pics snappel! as usual!

Make of this what you will. My attempt to have a last walk through the U-boat before it gets cut up for 'display'. No doubt plenty will disapprove, but if they're going to just let it sit around and rot then they can't expect everyone to live with it. I find it rather shocking that there are so few internal pictures available in the public domain, despite the fact it was open for tours for several years.

Naturally no damage was done to the boat, and if anyone is in any doubt about just how historically important I consider the boat to be, then read my full report (http://www.level-two.co.uk/u534.php). It really was quite an adventure. Those brave men who lived (and died) in the U-boat flotilla have my eternal respect.

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/A1.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/B1.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/D2.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0066.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0080.jpg http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0073.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0099.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0086.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0087.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/rp534/DSC_0097.jpg

Just read your report and, quite frankly, I found it bloody marvellous! Well done, Snappel.

:PDT_Piratz_26:

Snappel.
Great report mate. :handclap:

Excellent Snappel :)

Brilliant report the best I have ever read. A super explore very well done

An excellent full report Snappel, I originally wanted to know what the tennis racket was for, I suppose its to get a rope up high. I'm amazed at the preparations that go into it. I can imagine how scary the shear hight of the thing is when u stood next to it :PDT_Xtremez_42:plus the size of the inside.

:handclap:

Fasinating Snappel :PDT_Piratz_26:

Excellent report and images, shame to see no one willing to put their hands in their pocket and find a final resting place for this memorial to brave men.

A GERMAN SAILOR’S POEM

There are no roses on a sailor’s grave,
No lilacs on an ocean wave,
The only tribute is a seagull’s sweep,
And the teardrops that their sweetheart’s weep.

Thanks for all the feedback, and the epitaph!

The report can now be viewed on my site here (http://www.level-two.co.uk/u534.php). A regular 'location report' and a bigger gallery will follow very shortly.

Amazing Snappel. I went to see this after the museum had closed and stood outside the perimeter fence and gazed at what seemed to be a rust bucket.

An amazing set of pictures on the interior!! :PDT11

That is a most fitting epitaph Miguel and appreciated by a retired Officer in the Royal Navy. Thank you.

Hi Snappel

Excellent pictures and report, Snappel. You also helped inspire a poem. See below.

Chris

***************

Not a whale

-- not exactly:
some might say
a shark or wolf

comes to mind
more -- and blood-
red swastika flags;

for the water laps
languid at Birkenhead
where a rusted U-Boat lies:

Kriegsmarine U-534
sits dry above a dock,
a predator at bay:

a beached whale.

Christopher T. George

Snappel, if you don't mind I am posting this poem on a few poetry sites and crediting you, giving the http://www.level-two.co.uk/u534.php website address also. If you have any objection to same, I can remove the images there. Let me know.

Too sleek to be a whale Chris, but the words to the poem, inspired are sleek and meaningful to me. Thanks.

Excellent Chris, I like it! Worth pointing out though, that even though red swastika flags were carried by the U-boats, most members of the Kriegsmarine were not Nazi's themselves, and in fact many despised them. Speaking out and denouncing Hitler and the regime could, however, lead to unpleasant consequences.

I only point that out in defence of the men who were just (like our own sailors) serving their country, not because it doesn't work in the poem!

Thanks, Steven & Snappel.

Chris

Well done Snappel. Great report.

Snappell, I have put a link to this thread on the Sailors Home I hope you don't mind. The sites compliment each other rather than being in competition.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

I don't mind at all. The more people who find it interesting the better!

Snappel you have done a great job, there was never much room in those
Subs, i was a seaman most of my working life, but i don"t think i would have the guts to sail in them.

Snappel I haven,t as yet read your report but will later, but I find the photos of the u boat brilliant. There is a neighbour of mine who was in the subs during the war and his wish is to go and see this u boat at Birkenhead. Unfortunately the poor old chap is unsteady on his feet and has undergone surgery for cancer and will never get up to see the u boat. With your permission I will print them out and take them round to his home so the old chap can see a glimpse of the inside of it.

Cheers

Yes yes, by all means print them. If they won't print to a decent resolution I'll do some A4 on a colour laser and send them to you/him free of charge.

One of the reasons I really wanted to get in there was to take a set of half-decent interior shots. The more people who enjoy them, the more worthwhile it made the whole 'operation'!!

Thanks Snappel, just read your report, very good. Sometimes it,s just as well we read about the other side,s stories, could make us feel human .

Thank you again for your permission, Frank will be pleased.:hug:

As I said, you're both welcome. I hope he likes them!

Chippie I found this site, it may be of some interest to your friend Frank
and to some others on this forum. www.uboat.net

Thanks Snappel, just read your report, very good. Sometimes it,s just as well we read about the other side,s stories, could make us feel human .

Thank you again for your permission, Frank will be pleased.:hug:

I hate to put a damper on all this...oh these poor German sailors. My uncle, a Liverpool merchant sailor, was killed in WW2 after being torpedoed in mid Atlanic by a U-Boat. The 15 year old cabin boy, from Liverpool, took to one of the 4 lifeboats launched and died of exposure.

I can honestly say I hold no affection towards German U-Boat crews. None at all.

This U-Boat shot down a British Liberator plane killing the crew? All it had to do was raise a white flag and attacks would have stopped. But, no they took to the gun. They had already been ordered to surrender by their own command and never - probably the reason the Cptn commited suicide as he knew he would have been hung. No time for them at all - scum!!!

That's such a narrow minded viewpoint.

The U-boat crews were doing their job, just as our seamen were doing theirs. Both sides committed terrible acts. Your uncle may have died of exposure, but enough U-boats were savagely sunk even when they were crippled and incapable of retaliating. Those men suffered a death just as unpleasant.

The only damper you've applied is on yourself...

Hey waterways, the war is finished. We are a part Teutonic race, we have a German queen on the throne. I have relatives left in a French grave and three in a watery grave somewhere only they know. And the war ended over 60 years ago. You don,t have to forget but you can forgive. I don,t knoe how many of my family killed enemy husbands and sons, but all that was history. I ,m just thankful my pos came back and I didn,t have to go through it. :ninja:

That's such a narrow minded viewpoint.

The U-boat crews were doing their job, just as our seamen were doing theirs. Both sides committed terrible acts. Your uncle may have died of exposure, but enough U-boats were savagely sunk even when they were crippled and incapable of retaliating. Those men suffered a death just as unpleasant.

The only damper you've applied is on yourself...

The prime point is. We were right and they were wrong.

"Savagely sunk"? If one came to the surface and was sinking they may have been ignored as other U-Boats were on the prowl and ships would not stop to assist for fear of torpedoes. Allied merchant ships were ordered not to stop when in convoy and many knowingly went right over British sailors in the water from a sinking further up the convoy. The last thing they wanted to do was risk their own lives for a U_Boat crew. Also the U-Boat crews did the odd acts like feining surrender and then open up. So, their intentions were not believed too often. They wee crewed by brainwashed kids were were in the Hitler youth, so were unpredictable.

BTW, the uncle never died of exposure, the cabin boy did. Another uncle was torpedoed twice - but was never sunk,. The torpedoes never went off. He was in the engine room and one came crashing in near him. Lucky man.

Before you start thinking that Germans in WW2 were fair and upright, look at what they did to the Russian civilians when they marched in, village after village - and they were NOT SS men either. Another uncle was one of the first to liberate Bergan-Belsen death camp. Have an evening by the fire listening to these men.

No time for them as a whole, and especially the crew of THAT U-Boat.

The modern German is a different animal though. I have worked there a number of times.

Hey waterways, the war is finished.

It is this poor German military men view I can't stand. Paint them as they were. Supporting an evil regime.

We,ve been supporting an evil regime since we were called "Great Britain" marching into peaceful countries and killing the locals and calling their country ours. So don,t give me that Sh***

We,ve been supporting an evil regime since we were called "Great Britain" marching into peaceful countries and killing the locals and calling their country ours. So don,t give me that Sh***

We stopped that 150 years ago. By WW2 large sections of the empire was and was to be given independence.

BTW, the British did not take territory for the sake of it. There
was a policy against that most of the time. Ask Cecil Rhodes

Hang on a minute, do you have Cecil,s mobile number?:ninja:

Hang on a minute, do you have Cecil,s mobile number?:ninja:

Read Empire by Nial Ferguson.

Waterways, you are one of a kind. Hey fellas don't let him wind you up, he is the worlds number one expert at it. Glad to see you back BTW. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

It is this poor German military men view I can't stand. Paint them as they were. Supporting an evil regime.Just last Saturday I took my boy to see the USS Red Oak Victory (in Richmond, California), one of the last "Victory" ships built. Although this particular "Victory ship" (7000 ton armed merchantman) served in the Pacific (and Vietnam) rather than the Battle of the Atlantic, nonetheless the very old WWII era Chief Engineer on board has been on the Murmansk run and seen U-Boat action personally.

What he said did not surprise me in the least. There was a U-Boat commander who came alongside his unarmed merchantman and gave loudhailer instructions on which side to launch lifeboats so the ship could be sunk "safely". (Bear in mind he was a "Chief" and engine-room officers were the among most vulnerable). There were other U-boat Kapitans who would use machine guns to strafe mariners trying to abandon ship.

People are a mixture of decent and indecent everywhere in my experience. But it's little surprise that Henry Kaiser (Californian industrialist) persuaded Roosevelt to give up on Liberty ships and instead build "fast" (15 knots steam turbine)armed merchantmen instead. See http://www.ssredoakvictory.com/

Liverpool needs to preserve what artifacts are left of and not forget it's WWII era marine history and its strong American connection. More American militarymen have passed through Liverpool than any other place in the UK. At the same time Liverpool needs to ensure that all new developments are focussed around the particularly strong and ancient maritime heritage that is a benefit few cities have.

It would not be inappropriate to review and renew "Freedom of the (City, Borough, Town)" awards made by Merseyside Cities and Towns to American organisations. I see, for example, Freedom of the Town of Wallasey was granted to All US Forces in 1944, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~liverpool/Wallasey.html). Nothing to be lost and everything to be gained from reminding them that there is no expiration (sic) date to "Freedom". American (and all Allied) servicemen in uniform should still travel free on the ferries for example.

Yes, I agree. There were plenty of reports of Allied servicemen shooting POW's in cold blood, etc. It's easy to think we were the universal defenders of good, but that wasn't always the case. There were good natured people on both sides, but unfortunately for your average soldier of sailor, you couldn't be choosy over which orders you obeyed.

As it happens I'm off to Germany for a week in December, so it'll be interesting to see what remnants of the wars I can find.

Yes, I agree. There were plenty of reports of Allied servicemen shooting POW's in cold blood, etc. It's easy to think we were the universal defenders of good, but that wasn't always the case. There were good natured people on both sides, but unfortunately for your average soldier of sailor, you couldn't be choosy over which orders you obeyed.

As it happens I'm off to Germany for a week in December, so it'll be interesting to see what remnants of the wars I can find.

One of my pet history subject is WW2. I know a hell of lot about it. I advise you to do some reading about it.

My uncle was on the first wave on D-Day and fought the SS hand to hand in Normandy. It was TNP (Take No Prisoners). They just shot the Germans in the heat of battle, especially the SS. In Burma the Japanese had a no surrender policy - they never in The Philippines or Manchuria - and the British killed around 100,000 of them. In the Far East, most Japanese troops were taken out of action by the British and the Soviets, not the USA.

The British never systematically went through villages killing the inhabitants as the Germans did. We never had death camps and made death a production line. We never never said we were the master race and attempted to make all other subservient to us. We never attempted genocide.

I can't stand all this bleeding heart PR crap.

The British never systematically went through villages killing the inhabitants as the Germans did. We never had death camps and made death a production line. We never never said we were the master race and attempted to make all other subservient to us. We never attempted genocide.
I hear you on that, but your average German submariner wasn't running the death camps. You're probably getting confused between the Kriegsmarine and the Nazi dictatorship. There were some interesting stories of insides of U-boats being tantamount to treason once they were at sea, as lots of the crews detested the Nazi movement.

I hear you on that, but your average German submariner wasn't running the death camps.


They all had the same mentality. Few never.


You're probably getting confused between the Kriegsmarine and the Nazi dictatorship.


The Kriegsmarine was a tool of the Nazi regime.


There were some interesting stories of insides of U-boats being tantamount to treason once they were at sea, as lots of the crews detested the Nazi movement.

Then why were they sinking Allied ships? If I hated a regime and was enlisted I would go to the most inert part of the military I could. U-Boat crews "volunteered". Many German sailors did not do too much during WW2, as their navy couldn't do that much at all. I would have wanted to be one of those men.

For someone who claims to be an amateur WW2 historian, you don't know much do you?

For someone who claims to be an amateur WW2 historian, you don't know much do you?

Keep going and I'll educate you.

Ah, this was what I read...

WATERLOO, Aug 26, 1993 - A former German officer of a sunken World War II U-Boat rumored to be loaded with gold, art treasures or even escaping Nazi officials says that his boat was on no other mission than to surrender when it was sunk in the last days of the war.

"I don't think any U-boat would have taken a Nazi aboard at that time," says William Brinkmann, 82, who was first officer on board the U-534, which was raised from the bottom of the sea near Sweden by a Dutch salvage company this week. "The Nazis were never that popular among people in the navy."

Brinkmann was born in Hesse, Germany but lived in Danzig Free State before the war, now the cityof Gdansk in Poland. "We were a free city for 200 years - we only became part of Germany in 1939 after Hitler had invaded us. We knew what was going on in Germany before the war because we got the papers from Berlin and Sweden." Speaking of life under the Nazis he said "We knew that there was something wrong, but it was a total dictatorship. You were a dead man if you said anything against them."

http://www.geocities.com/lostnprofound/u534.htm

THE future of one of the last remaining German U-boats has been safeguarded on Merseyside after a new visitor attraction to house it was given the go-ahead. Read (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/10/22/u-boat-s-future-is-secure-64375-19987639/)

Thanks Kev.

Well, it's interesting to see that they've given a clear explanation for cutting it up. As I thought, moving it in one piece would cost an astronomical amount. Much as I'm going to hate to see it cut up, it's better than it being left to rot further, or worse, be scrapped. If there's a proper visitor centre, and it's looked after and marketed properly, then I think it'll be a worthwhile attraction.

THE future of one of the last remaining German U-boats has been safeguarded on Merseyside after a new visitor attraction to house it was given the go-ahead. Read (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/10/22/u-boat-s-future-is-secure-64375-19987639/)

Nice to know. Thanks, Kev!

Chris

that's a bit of good news. :PDT11

that's a bit of good news. :PDT11Yes, I was interested to see in the same article that the new Pier Head building will be used partly for historic exhibits related to the ferries. Hopefully the builder's models that used to be in glass cases at Seacombe will be shown at Pier Head.

I wonder how many builder's models of Cammell-Laird ships are collecting dust somewhere and need a decent home. Of course they went to the ship owners, so they were dispersed (which is probably a good thing).

I don't suppose there was ever a model of the Wallasey Belle as it was not bought new. :cry:

Yes, I was interested to see in the same article that the new Pier Head building will be used partly for historic exhibits related to the ferries. Hopefully the builder's models that used to be in glass cases at Seacombe will be shown at Pier Head.

I wonder how many builder's models of Cammell-Laird ships are collecting dust somewhere and need a decent home. Of course they went to the ship owners, so they were dispersed (which is probably a good thing).

I don't suppose there was ever a model of the Wallasey Belle as it was not bought new. :cry:

A model of the CSS Alabama and her plans would be nice, although I think Lairds have a recent one somewhere. CSS Alabama was build at Lairds and is the most successful ship in world naval history in ships sunk - about 60 of them. It had a Liverpool crew with mainly Southern American Confederate officers, although some English, fought for America and not once dropped anchor in an American port. I believe Lairds archive is with Wirral Council now.

I work right by the u-boat. I kept thinking, I should take a photo while it's still there, but left it too late and now they're working on it.

Am gonna miss walking past it every day once it's been moved. I noticed they've taken the guns off it. I wonder if there'll be much left there when I go back to work after xmas

Hope they do a good job on her, I,m in favour of keeping her but the plans could have been a bit more effective in keeping her a submarine instead of a cut up fish on a slab.

Does any old timers remember this little piece of Heyworth Street? On the left was the entrance of St Benedicts Church in Kepler Street. My gramps got married in there in 1924 I think it was.

Photo curtesy of records office.

Submarine’s new lease of life

Feb 5 2008 by Kevin Core, Liverpool Echo

A “GIANT wire cheese cutter” sliced into a piece of Merseyside’s naval history today.

Work began this morning dividing the German submarine U-534 into four sections.

Tourist officials hope it will become a major attraction at Mersey Ferries’ Woodside terminal.

Engineers were using a state-of-the-art diamond wire cutter to cut up the 240 ton U-boat.

It was sunk en-route to Norway by depth charges dropped by a Liberator aircraft from RAF 547 Squadron.

The operation is expected to take up to one month.

Each section will make a day-long journey by floating crane from Mortar Mill Quay to Woodside.

Cuttings were designed with such precision the sub could be reassembled in one piece.

But visitors at the new attraction will be able to walk around the hull parts on raised platforms.

The first section to be removed will be a 23-metre length of the bow.

Work so far has concentrated on painting the exterior and removing rotten timbers and steelwork from the top deck.

Due to open in summer, the exhibition area will include artefacts such as tools found on the sub and memorabilia portraying the history of undersea warfare.

Fifteen thousand litres of diesel remained in the U-534’s storage tanks which had to be pumped out.

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel which owns and operates Mersey Ferries, said: “We’re now moving on to the next stage in what is an exciting project to boost tourism on Merseyside.

“More people than ever will be able to view the sub in its new location with superb viewing areas so that everyone will be able to see what it is like inside.”

Saved from the breaker

A PROJECT to restore a 105-year-old coal-powered Merseyside tugboat which was saved from the scrapyard has been given a funding boost.

The Daniel Adamson is being brought back to its former glory by a team of volunteers.

Now the project has landed a £10,000 donation from the Merseyside Lightship Preservation Society (MLPS).

The charity, originally formed to save the historic Mersey Bar lightship Planet, decided that their remaining funds should be spent on the tug after Planet was purchased privately.

MLPS chairman Stan McNally said: “It was the natural choice, based on Merseyside with the best prospect of success.”

Built in Birkenhead, the Daniel Adamson is the only surviving steam powered tug tender in the UK.

History of a relic

Launched in February 1942 U-534 was most probably a training boat in the Baltic

She never saw active combat and was used for meteorological purposes

In May 1944, U-534 was released for operational duty avoiding contact with the enemy to ensure regular weather reports

On May 5, 1945 while in the Kattegat, north-west of Helsingor, it refused Admiral Dönitz’s order for all U-boats to surrender.

Heading north towards Norway, with no flag of surrender, she was attacked by a Liberator aircraft from RAF 547 Squadron which dropped depth charges.

U-534 took heavy damage and began to sink, 49 of 52 crew members survived.

It was discovered in 1986 and was thought to be carrying Nazi gold. It was given to Merseyside by Karsten Rae.

From BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/7230011.stm)
Last Updated: Wednesday, 6 February 2008, 09:38 GMT

Engineers breaking-up WWII U-boat

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2248674004_a19f9400b8_o.jpg

There are only four full-size WWII German U-Boats in existence

Engineers have started a month-long operation to break up the only World War II German U-Boat in the UK to turn it into a new tourist attraction.
U-534, which is being moved to Mersey Ferries' Woodside ferry terminal in Birkenhead, will be split into four pieces using a diamond wire cutter.

The sections, each weighing up to 240 tonnes, will each take a day to move.

Visitors will be able to walk through sections of the U-boat when the exhibition opens in July.

The submarine currently stands at Mortar Mill Quay, near Birkenhead, where it formed part of the Historic Warships Museum, which closed last year.

Merseytravel, which owns and operates Mersey Ferries, bought the vessel to turn into a tourist attraction at its terminal.

The first of the four sections to be removed is a 23m (75.4 ft) length of the bow, which will be moved by floating crane across the water.

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: "There are only four U-Boats left. One here, two in Germany and a sister boat of the U-534 in Chicago.

"It's a really important piece of history which we want to preserve.

"It's the latest in a series of developments we are undertaking to ensure Mersey Ferries maintains and enhances its position as the most popular paid-for attraction in our region.

"More people than ever before will be able to view the sub in its new location."

RAF depth charge

The Imperial War Museum confirmed there are only four full-size WWII German U-Boats in existence, and that U-534 is the only one in the UK.

The submarine, launched on 23 September 1942, was used as a training vessel in the Baltic, according to the museum.

U-534 was sunk on 5 May 1945, in the Kattegat, north-west of Helsingor, Denmark, by depth charges dropped by an RAF Liberator.

The boat was salvaged in 1993 and brought to the UK in May 1996, before becoming a popular tourist attraction in Seacombe.

The warships museum was closed down after nearby warehouses were redeveloped and the land was needed for parking space.

The new exhibition at Woodside, which includes artefacts from the submarine and an enigma machine, is due to open in July.

More photographs of U-534 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7230098.stm)

read this in the echo this morning, it was sunk 48 hours before the end of the war, considering where it was sunk, how on earth did it end up in liverpool ? i think letting people see it is better than letting it rust in some hidden yard or scrapping it

The story of U-534,

U-534 web site (http://web.ukonline.co.uk/gaz/u-534.html)

shoney, scroll down and click on forums, it will give you more info.

I live on the River Foyle and at the end of WWII the German fleet of submarines surrendered into Derry. The dozens of U Boats were then taken out and scuttled at the mouth of the lough.

Derry City Council have started a process to refloat one of the subs which is in incredibly good condition to use as a tourist attraction.

I live on the River Foyle and at the end of WWII the German fleet of submarines surrendered into Derry. The dozens of U Boats were then taken out and scuttled at the mouth of the lough.

Derry City Council have started a process to refloat one of the subs which is in incredibly good condition to use as a tourist attraction.

The surrender in Northern Ireland was to give Ulster a feeling of being 100% involved in WW2 - conscription was not enforced in N Ireland, if you didn't want to fight you never. The sinking of the U-Boats was demonstration to the world. In fact they should have been scrapped as metal was short after WW2. There was 115 of them - a lot of metal. A total of 154 U-Boats surrendered after WW2.

U-Boats at Lisahally awaiting sinking:
http://www.uboat.net/photos/deadl.jpg

Most were scuttled way out into the Atlantic:
http://www.uboat.net/maps/images/deadlight_map.gif

Plans to renovate a former World War II German submarine and turn it into a tourist attraction have received a major cash boost.

The U-534 submarine is to become the centrepiece of a new exhibition at the Woodside Ferry Terminal in Wirral which is due to open this summer.

It has now attracted £550,000 of European Objective One funding.

Neil Scales from Merseytravel who run the terminal said: "This is a great boost to an exciting project."

The submarine will be split into sections which will allow visitors to see inside it from specially-built viewing platforms.

The exhibition in the visitors centre will display some of the four-and-a-half tons of memorabilia that was found on U534.

This includes an Enigma cipher machine, ammunition, uniforms, tools, charts and maps.

The entire project is estimated to cost about £2.5m.

BBC Liverpool

Was In Birkenhead again today. The Uboats covered In gray material stuff, not cut Into 4 pieces yet.

Strangely I thought It was the Liverpool side this was being moved to not reading the articles properly.:PDT_Xtremez_42:

I went through Woodside today wondering why some was fenced off.

Euro-cash for Wirral U-Boat project
Feb 18 2008
by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A SCHEME to rejuvenate Woodside ferry terminal by siting a former German U-Boat there has received a cash boost from the EU.

The plans by Merseytravel would aim to see the Wirral ferry terminal become a major tourist attraction in the £2.5m scheme.

Now the plans have been boosted by a £550,000 grant, and it is expected the U-Boat will be opened to the public this summer.

More (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/02/18/euro-cash-for-wirral-u-boat-project-64375-20488016/)...

Its good that the site generates such heated debate. Its because people STILL care and thats a good thing, so many years after the war. I can see where you are coming from,Waterways, My own Dad "went into the water" as those (true) men said, when he was still a very young man and his ship was hit. His health was destroyed and returned home to find his house in Sylvester Street, Vauxhall flattened and his wife and baby Daughter in an air raid shelter, covered in soot. However, Snappels report moved me and I know my Dad would have understood. He loved the series "Das Boot" about the German submarine and considered it the best TV he had ever seen about the war fought in the water. He said he thought it was a piece of history, r egardless of the fact that it was about germans. He understood it as he said it was about the war and what weeks and weeks in a "floating toilet" does to your head. Yes, I hate what the Germans did, particularly when I used to hear my poor Dad coughing his guts up 49 years after the war (a spell in a freezing sea will do that to your lungs) but you know what? He knew the score. He always said it was the working class of one Country fighting the working class of the other, with the "Higher ups" (his words) pulling the strings. Yes, the Germans behaved atrociously during the invasion of Poland but read Max Hasting Book about the liberation of Germany by the Russians. It makes for terrifying reading. Mass rapes, including women awaiting birth in maternity units, and merciless killing of civilians.. War does that to men but of course the Germans were morally wrong and I am glad people like my Dad and Waterways relatives stood on the line against them. Back to my point however. Its a piece of History, and it needs to be seen in the context of the times. After all, there are people at the sharp end of British and American guns at the moment, God help the decent people on BOTH sides

I just missed the first section getting transported to Woodside this morning. I couldn't see too much from the Liverpool side as the weather wasn't too bright.

Final piece of U-boat jigsaw is put in place
Mar 17 2008
by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Echo

THE final piece of what had become a very large jigsaw puzzle was put into place at Woodside ferry terminal at the weekend.

The bow section of the U-534 submarine was transported from Birkenhead docks to sit alongside the four other sections for what will become an unusual tourist attraction.

More (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/03/17/final-piece-of-u-boat-jigsaw-is-put-in-place-100252-20635310/)...

When I first joined Harrison Line there was an engineer who 'worked by' when ships were in Liverpool, but who never went to sea anymore.
Only remember his first name, Paddy, and he was quite a small man with thick glasses and hearing aids in both ears.
He was deaf as a post and some of the junior engineers used to take the pish a bit, as he couldn't hear what they were saying. I saw him on many occasions before sailing but it was two or three years before I heard his story - from someone else, he never spoke about it.
He was torpedoed twice during the war. The first time he wasn't in the engine room and managed to get in a boat, suffering badly from exposure before being rescued. The second time he was in the engine room with no hope of getting out. An escaping air bubble carried him up a ventilation shaft and spat him out into the sea; his eardrums were burst by the pressure and that was why he had the hearing aids. A nearby vessel picked him up immediately as it was the north Atlantic and survival time in the water was literally minutes.

The same juniors who'd taken the pish treated him with respect once they'd heard the story and became very protective of him. This was the early 70's and the guy is probably long dead by now.

Wonderful information and reflections in this thread. Yes the submarine is a German war vessel, one of the fleet of U-Boats that caused terror on the Atlantic. However, as has been said, it is part of a vital time in world history and needs to be saved and studied for that reason. Great to know it will be preserved and open to the public in such a prime location. Good for Woodside, good for the Wirral, Liverpool, and Merseyside. :handclap: :PDT11

Chris

He was torpedoed twice during the war.

I had an uncle who was torpedoed twice, but never sunk - lucky man. Another who was killed in a Belgian ship when sunk by a U-Boat. We only found out a few months ago his name was on the Merchant Navy memorial at Tower Bridge in London. He is here..John Morgan.

http://i32.tinypic.com/1nzplu.jpg

He was deserter from the British Army - how a merchant seaman, a reserved occupation, was called up I don't know. He hated the army, deserted and fought the war the only way he knew, giving the ultimate sacrifice. His name is on the Cenotaph in Antwerp too. The army came for him during the war - he was already dead. Having his name on the Tower Hill Memorial near Tower Bridge, being recognised by his country, means so much to us.

The name Richardson T, on the memorial was a 15 year old Liverpool cabin boy. He froze to death in a lifeboat. His mother lost two sons in the Merchant Navy and was desperately writing around to find news of one that was missing - poor dear. Here is a letter she wrote:

--------------------
From:
Mrs. M. Richardson
102 Boundary Street
Liverpool 5

February 21, 1943

Dear Sir,

Will you excuse me for taking the liberty of writing to you. I saw the Sunday Chronicle with your experience of 49 days in an open boat and I thought it might be the ship that my son was in, it was reported sunk the 6th of December, he was a trimmer and we got word that the ship was sunk with all hands will you be kind enough to let me know as I almost feel that he has been picked up and is prisoner.

I lost a boy last February on a Belgian ship the SS Gandia he died of exposure after 14 days in a boat this son that is missing now was on SS Cermaic could you please let me know by return of post has I am most anxious

I will close now wishing you Good Bye & God Bless

From a Broken Hearted Mother

Please Answer
He was trimmer on the ship.
___________

My little girl with WW2 Cruiser HMS Belfast behind:
http://i28.tinypic.com/2mxejox.jpg

Babes great uncles' name is on the other side of the wall:
http://i31.tinypic.com/2i78d8y.jpg

Babe with Tower Bridge behind:
http://i29.tinypic.com/2lstrgj.jpg

24,000 with no grave but the sea:
http://i30.tinypic.com/2hf742w.jpg

The Memorial:
http://i31.tinypic.com/28r2oax.jpg

Hi Waterways

Thanks for telling us the sad story of your relative lost at sea during the war. As you say, though a deserter from the British Army, he gave the ultimate sacrifice and is correctly honored for that. Very fine photographs as well, Waterways. :handclap:

Chris

Hi Waterways

Thanks for telling us the sad story of your relative lost at sea during the war. As you say, though a deserter from the British Army, he gave the ultimate sacrifice and is correctly honored for that. Very fine photographs as well, Waterways. :handclap:

Chris

The desperate mother whose son was killed on the SS Cermaic. The two sons are on the Memorial at Tower Hill. The U-Boat that sunk her was later sunk by the Americans who took a lot of the crew prisoner. They suspected the U-Boat crew machine gunned the survivors (a lot women on board and some kids), although never proving it. The captain was in a prisoner of war camp in the USA and was shot dead climbing the outer fence.

Thanks for that story and lovely photos Waterways.

That sad tale is similar to my in-laws who lost 3 brothers -all aged early 20s at sea and they too are on a memorial at Tower Hill. Strangely enough their father was lost years before them at sea too.